Automatic exhaust drain-cock for steam-engines.



J. T. MGGRATHH AUTOMATIC EXHAUST DRAIN COOK FOR STEAM ENGINES.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 28, 1912.

L1 3 62Q Patented July M, 1914.

9 x w 31 a v formedtherewith is a ing spout 14 and located between the spout ,yalve or cock was held closed un'der presboiler 5 connecting at its other end to the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 9

IYLLIINOIS.

Jenn 'rnomas u ejna'rn, or 'nnoomrnerro'n,

nu'roma'rrc' nxnnusr imam-coon ron STEAM-ENGINES.

Patented July 14, 1914. Application flied December as, 1912. "Seria1No. 739,026.

also provided with two lateral branches 20 opening into the valve chamber 15. The exhaust passageways 21 'leadfrom the cylinders 7 to the main exhaust 22 whichocommunicate's with the tunnel or smoke-stack 10. Suitable pipes 23 lead from the branches 20 'of the valve casing laterally and vertically into the exhaust passageways21;

' In the construction so far described it will be seen that on account of the pipe 9 extending-beneath the body of .the'boiler, there is no pocket in the pipe, as heretofore has been the case, and therefore no condensation can lie in it. It will also be seeirthat any condensation whichw uld lie in the exhaust passageways 21 w1ll pass away through the opening in the valve seat 16; 1 Under ordinary circumstances when the pump is working to fill the drain pipe the force of the exhaust would force the ball 18 on its seat 16. When full pressure, however, is in the drain pipe and the pump is not working and there is no exhaust necessary the ball will fall back and allow of the drip or drain.

It will be understood from theconstruction thus far described that my valve is distinctly automatic in its operation with the accompanying beneficial results as described To all whom'it concern: Be it known that I, JOHN T. MCGRATH, a citizen of the United-States, residing in thecity of Bloomington, county of McLean, and" State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Exhaust Drain-Cocks for SteamaEngine's, of

which the following is a specification.

invention relates to improvements in an automatic exhaust drain-cock for steam engines such as shown and described in Let-; ters Patent of the United States issued to. me, No. 671,291, dated April 2, 1901.

My present invention pertains to a draincock'having all the advantages of the draincock shown and described in my former patent in which the ball-controlled drain" sure, whereas, my improvement provides for the manual opening of the 'valVe when under pressure. p

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an' engine showing the application of my improvement; Fig. 2 is a rear view from beneath the engine showing the location of my improvement; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of, the valve casing; Fig. 4 is a vertical section of Fig. 3.

Referrininow more particularly to the in my former patent. There are times, howdrawmg, .t e engine consists of he s al ever, when the cylinders often become loaded with condensation due to boiler foaming and other causes which makes it desirable to relieve the cylinders of condensation even though they be under pressure. To this end I form a slot '24 in the nozzle 14, and lugs 25 formed integral with the nozzle 14, are positioned on opposite sides of the slot. Alever 26 extends through the slot 24 and is pivotally mounted between the lugs 25 on the pivot pin 27 The lever 26 is provided with a hook end 28- so' designed as to project through the opening between the valve chamber and nozzle and to unseat the ball 18 when said ball is held against the valve seat by pressure. An operating lever 29 is connected to one end of the lever 26 and is pivotally connected at its other end to a lever 30 extending into the cab 31 of the engine. It is of course obvious that the lever 26 may be operated from the cab of the engine by any suitable means. It will therefore be readily seen that even though the ball 18 is held against the vvalve seat, if the operator finds that the cylinders are becoming loaded with condensation, although the 6, cylinders 7 and valve chest 8. The exhaust pipe 9 which is connected to the pump at one end, instead of leadin upwardly at-its other end into the funne 10, extends downwardly and beneath the boiler 5, pump The valve casing 11 convalve casing 11.

= 2 suitably threaded sists of a vertical branch for connect-ion with the plate 13 secured to any suitable part of the engine. Integrally downwardly projectand the vertical branch 12 is the valve chamber 15 provided with a valve seat 16 and a removable plug 17. The vertical branch, valve chamber and spout are preferably formed integral A ball valve 18 is placed within the valve chamber and adapted to close the opening in the valve seat, but the ball 18 is reater in diameter than the opening 19 in t e vertical branch 12 so as toprevent the ball from being drawn into the ver-. tical branch through suction. The exhaust pipe '9 isconnected to the vertical branch in any suitable manner. The valve caslng 1s of the arrangement cylinders may be under pressure, the operator can relieve the cylinders by moving the lever 31 so as to force the hook'end 28 of the lever 26 against the ballvl8, thereby unseating the samefwith the result that the condensation in the cylinders will be blown out through the n'ozzle'l4 and when the cylinders are thus cleared the lever 26 is then returned to its normal or inoperative osition with the hook end lying free o the valve seat, thereby allowing the ball to seat 7 automatic and close the valve opening, whereupon the feature will again take place. Having now described my invention, I claim I An automatic exhaust drain cock for steam engines comprising an exhaust valve provided with three intake openings, a valve chamber in communication with said intake openings,a valve seat in said valve chamber, a ball valve within said valve chamber, .a downwardly projecting spout secured to said-exhaust valve, a pivoted finger extending through an opening in said spout and the end of which is adapted to project into the openin formed by the valve seat for unseating the ball valve, means for moving saidgfinger upon its pivot and a screw-" threaded plug having a threaded engage ment with sand valve and forming one wall of the valve chamber.

JOHN THOMAS McGRATH. Witnesses:

ALBERT CILOAY, RQL. LovELn. 

